Late Homers Power Blaze to Win
April 9, 2014 - California League (CalL1)
Bakersfield Blaze News Release
The red-hot Bakersfield Blaze continued their offensive surge, and despite surrendering a five-run lead to the Stockton Ports, two late homers pushed the Blaze to an 8-6 win and a superb 6-1 start to the year.
At the midway point, the game looked like it might be a Blaze runaway.
In the 1st inning, after Blaze starter Drew Cisco escaped a whopper of a jam, Bakersfield gave him a lead. Ryan Wright and Junior Arias singled to begin the bottom half, and after a force play and a stolen bag, Seth Mejias-Brean brought both men home on a two-run single.
The Ports scored an early run in the 2nd on a Chad Pinder triple and subsequent wild pitch, but the Blaze would put up the next four, plating one in the 3rd on two walks and two productive outs, two in the 4th on a hit, error and check-swing two-run double, and one more in the 5th on John Tolisano's first homer of the 2014 season.
But the 6th changed the complexion of the afternoon affair. The Blaze went to the pen, and the Ports took advantage of a new face, as Renato Nunez greeted Tim Adleman with a solo shot, and despite a nifty double play grounder, four of the next five Ports reached base. The Blaze went back to the pen for Sean Lucas, the southpaw, but a walk and a key error extended the inning and the Ports took advantage. In all, 11 batters came to the dish, Stockton scored five times and knotted the game at 6 runs apiece.
The Blaze had the last laugh. After a scoreless 7th from a settled Lucas, Brooks Pinckard (W, 2-0) worked the 8th, and with the help of his leftfielder Jesse Winker gunning down a runner at home, the Blaze kept the game even into the bottom portion.
And, on the very first pitch of the bottom of the 8th, Chris Berset lined a missile just over the shallow wall in dead center, giving the Blaze a 7-6 lead. Ryan Doolittle (L, 0-1) was removed in favor of Austin House, and the next batter, Juan Perez, homered over the scoreboard for a little breathing room.
Carlos Gonzalez (S, 1) dominated the 9th for his first save in his first try.
The win moves the Blaze to 6-1 on the season, and marks Bakersfield as the first team to reach that plateau.
Off the productive homestand, the Blaze hit the road for seven - four in San Jose and three in Stockton. Make sure to tune in to BakersfieldBlaze.com and TuneIn Radio for all seven games, as Dan Besbris brings the call of the hottest team in the League!
And, of course, listen to local radio on SmartTalk AM-1230 on Friday and Saturday nights to the Blaze game of the week.
California League Stories from April 9, 2014
- Nuts Swept by Rawhide After 5-2 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- San Jose Giants Opening Homestand Preview: April 10 - April - San Jose Giants
- What's New in 2014 for the Stockton Ports - Stockton Ports
- Late Homers Power Blaze to Win - Bakersfield Blaze
- Sixth Annual AV Autism Walk this Saturday - Lancaster JetHawks
- Left-Handed Pitcher Jeremy Affeldt to Join San Jose Giants - San Jose Giants
- Vladimir Guerrero to Throw out First Pitch for High Desert Mavericks Tonight - High Desert Mavericks
- Blaze Rally in Ninth, Sink Ports 10-9 in Extras - Stockton Ports
- Alsup Strikes out Career-High 10 in 8-1 Loss - Modesto Nuts
- Blaze Cap Wild Comeback in 12 - Bakersfield Blaze
- Giants Drop Second Straight to JetHawks, 4-2 - San Jose Giants
- JetHawks Battle to Win Third Straight - Lancaster JetHawks
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